Audrey Clark Gurie

One of central Louisiana's most successful businesswomen and a retired sorority housemother at LSU, she died Saturday, April 23, 2011, at the home of her youngest son, Randy Gurie, in Baton Rouge. She was born Aug. 15, 1918, in Conroe, Texas, to George Clark and Nannie Andrews Clark. Visitation in Baton Rouge will be at University Baptist Church on Monday, April 25, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., followed by a special prayer service conducted by Dr. George Haile. The funeral and celebration of her life will be held at Wallace Ridge Baptist Church in Jonesville on Tuesday, April 26, with visitation from noon until service at 2 p.m., conducted by the Rev. Huey Tarpley, with participation by the Rev. Dominick DiCarlo Jr. and the Rev. Lester Johnson. Burial will be in the Gurie-McFarlen Cemetery. She was a longtime resident of Jonesville and for many years owned Audrey's, a ladies and children's clothing store that catered to loyal customers not only in Jonesville but also those from Monroe to Alexandria and Natchez, Miss., and all points in between. While she did not realize her early desire of becoming a registered nurse, she devoted her life to helping others in many meaningful ways - with the help of her family, through her business, and, most recently, serving as the housemother for Pi Beta Phi sorority at LSU. She also served a brief tenure as the housemother for Alpha Xi Delta sorority, where she was initiated as an honorary member. Throughout her long life, there were many who sought her advice and counsel as they faced life's many demanding issues. Not without her own challenges, she faced adversity with tenacity and was sustained through her deep faith in Jesus Christ, with an appropriate amount of humor thrown in. She valued her family and the joy that she experienced in helping them and others. She was an active member of Wallace Ridge Baptist Church in Jonesville and was also pleased to be a "watch care" member at University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. She is survived by her sons, Jerry A. Gurie and wife Jimmie, of Jena, and Randy Gurie, of Baton Rouge; two grandchildren, Jeff Gurie and wife Christy, of Alexandria, and Jason Gurie and wife Amy, of Red Lodge, Mont.; great-granddaughters, Leah Gurie and Isabella Gurie; and great-grandsons, Jacob Gurie and Dayton Gurie. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph R. Gurie; and brother, Garland Clark. She leaves behind a legacy of rich memories and humorous thoughts for those who knew and loved her. Pallbearers in Jonesville will be Carl Cloessner, Craig Franklin, Conley Manning, Sidney McLain, Carl Parker and Charles Taylor. Honorary pallbearers are Eldridge Cloessner, Howard Hardie, James McFarlen, Shelton McLain, Henry Arthur Taliaferro Jr. and E.B. Trichel Jr. Many thanks to Dr. Susan Nelson and assistant Tina, at Our Lady of the Lake Senior Care; Brandi Baker, registered nurse with Feliciana Home Health; and Ashley Fletcher, special nurse with St. Joseph's Hospice. Memorial contributions may be made to Wallace Ridge Baptist Church, 14566 La. 124 North, Jonesville, LA 71343; University Baptist Church, 5775 Highland Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70808; Louisiana Baptist Children's Home, 7200 Desiard St., Monroe, LA 71203; or to Gideons International atwww.gideons.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.gideons.org">www.gideons.org.